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Katie Lee

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Velvet Taco Names New CEO

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Velvet Taco, the fast-casual restaurant celebrated for its globally inspired tacos and bold flavors, has named Chris Schultz as CEO. He will lead the brand’s next phase of growth in the U.S. and internationally, with a focus on operations, innovation and elevating the overall guest experience. Schultz brings more than 30 years of restaurant leadership experience. Most recently, he served as CEO of Voodoo Doughnut, where he guided the brand’s expansion into new markets while keeping its distinctive culture intact. Before that, he spent 9 years as senior …

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Bed Bath & Beyond Names New Chief of Stores

by Katie Lee

Murray, Utah — Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. and The Brand House Collective, Inc. have appointed Glen Cary as chief of stores for Bed Bath & Beyond and its family of brands. He brings more than 25 years of senior retail leadership, including over a decade at Bed Bath & Beyond where he served as Bed Bath & Beyond chief of stores as well as president of buybuy BABY. Cary has led multibillion-dollar operations, built customer-first cultures, and driven disciplined execution across large store networks. His new role will leverage …

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Albertsons® Companies Launches Digital Shopping Assistant Powered by Open AI

by Katie Lee

Boise, Idaho — Albertsons Companies, Inc. is marking a major milestone in its digital transformation journey: the launch of the Albertsons AI shopping assistant, an industry-leading web browser experience designed to make grocery shopping faster, smarter and more personalized. As the industry leans into agentic commerce, the Albertsons AI shopping assistant moves beyond search to execute complex end‑to‑end grocery tasks helping customers complete shopping, from recipe to cart, in minutes. Building on the success of the company’s Ask AI tool introduced earlier this year, the agentic shopping assistant is a …

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Jersey Mike’s Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Manasquan, N.J. — Jersey Mike’s Subs, a leading franchisor of fast-casual sandwich shops, has appointed Michele Allen as chief financial officer, effective Dec.1, 2025. Allen brings more than 25 years of financial leadership at the intersection of hospitality and franchising. As CFO, Allen will oversee the company’s global finance organization, supply chain and enterprise performance management as Jersey Mike’s scales its footprint across the U.S. and into key international markets. Allen steps into a key role previously held by Walter Tombs, who is retiring from Jersey Mike’s in January 2026 …

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CarMax Opens First Arkansas Store, Expanding to 42 States Nationwide

by Katie Lee

Richmond, Va. — CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, has opened its very first store in Arkansas, located in Rogers. CarMax now has 255 stores across 42 states nationwide. The new Rogers location is 11,500 square feet and has the capacity to stock approximately 500 used vehicles of nearly every make and model. “The growth in the region is tremendous, and we’re excited to be a part of it,” says Bradley McMahon, location general manager at the Rogers CarMax. “When selecting a new location, CarMax looks for …

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Wingstop Opens 3,000th Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Wingstop has opened its 3,000th restaurant globally — a significant milestone as the brand accelerates toward its vision of becoming a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand with more than 10,000 restaurants worldwide. Wingstop reached this milestone at a record pace, opening nearly 800 restaurants and expanding its global footprint by 50% in just 2 years. During this time, Wingstop entered six new markets: Australia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia and The Netherlands. Wingstop now operates in 47 U.S. states and 15 countries, and expects to soon open …

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IKEA Opens First Store in New Zealand

by Katie Lee

Malmö, Sweden — Two years and three months after the groundbreaking ceremony in Sylvia Park, Auckland, IKEA has officially opened its first store in New Zealand. New Zealand is the first new market for the largest IKEA retailer since 2021, when a store opened in Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia. “We’re thrilled to bring IKEA all the way to New Zealand, the country that’s geographically the furthest from our Swedish beginnings. That distance makes this opening special,” says Tolga Öncü, Ingka retail manager (COO), Ingka Group | IKEA. “Coming to New …

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Teriyaki Madness Names Chief Restaurant Officer Amid Record Growth

by Katie Lee

Denver — Teriyaki Madness has recruited industry leader Scott Shotter, most recently of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, as chief restaurant officer. In his new role, Shotter will oversee all aspects of restaurant operations across corporate and franchised locations, advancing the systems and strategies that fuel the brand’s nationwide expansion. This appointment comes as the brand prepares to open 45 new shops and hit 20% systemwide growth this year. With more than 35 years of restaurant leadership experience, Shotter has led operational excellence of some of the industry’s most recognizable brands. Prior …

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Zaxbys Charts a Bold Course

by Katie Lee

— By Katie Lee — Nearing 1,000 locations nationwide, Zaxbys is evolving from a regional Southern favorite to a national QSR staple. As it celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, Zaxbys® has ushered in a new era with a comprehensive refresh. This includes the introduction of its ‘Modern Farmhouse’ restaurant design, as well as an updated visual identity, branding and packaging. Together, these updates reflect a modernized, cohesive look and feel, signaling the next chapter in Zaxbys’ evolution while maintaining the bold flavors and Southern hospitality that guests love.  And …

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Belk Debuts Smaller-Format Belk Market Concept in Texas and Florida

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — This month, Belk is opening two new stores in Texas and Florida, debuting a new store concept for the 136-year-old retailer. Belk Market locations offer a carefully curated assortment of top national and private label brands in a smaller footprint. The new stores are located at The Grove at Wesley Chapel in Wesley Chapel, Fla., and The Centre at Preston Ridge in Frisco, Texas. “We know our customers come to us for the brands and products they trust, and we’re always looking for new ways to match …

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